Garment anchor



Dec. 17, 1935. c. H. LAKE I 2,024,827

GARMENT ANCHOR Filed Jan. 18, 1934 Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in feminine wearing apparel and has particular relation to means for anchoring an undergarment of the so-called foundation garment type in proper position when the same is being worn.

A primary object of the invention is to provide means whereby a garment of the above-indicated character will be prevented from riding up on the body when the wearer is seated or in action.

Other objects of the invention are to provide means of the character stated which will encourage better posture of the wearer when either sitting or standing, and which will afford desirable diaphragm control when seated and added comfort when walking or otherwise in action.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists, in general, in a device adapted to be secured to the rear portion of a foundation garment and to anchor the same through the medium of elastic webbing, or the like, to the rear portions of the hose-tops of the wearer, with the elastic material sufliciently stretched to place the same under considerable tension; and the invention further resides in the combination of such devices with the garments towhich the same are secured.

The invention will be more fully understood, and further objects and advantages of the same will appear, from a consideration of the detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the same appearing hereinafter, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the invention in use by a person wearing a garment having the anchoring devices secured thereto and attached to the hose-tops according to the proper method of use;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating an important part of the construction of the anchoring device and showing the method of securing the same to the garment;

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view showing a metallic member used in the construction of the preferred embodiment of the device, in its initial state before incorporation of the same in the completed device;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing an intermediate stage in the making of the device whereby the member shown in Fig. 3 is incorporated therein:

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the reverse side of the metallic member of Fig. 3 in its final form, in which it is rigidly see cured to a cooperating part of the construction; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective viewshowing the construction of Fig. 5 in combination with associated parts of the completed device. 5

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 illustrates a foundation garment ll of any suitable type in normal position on the body of a wearer. The anchoring devices of the present invention are provided in duplicate and firmly secured to the 10 rear portions of the garment I l by stitching of tabs l2 of substantially inelastic fabric thereto. Each of the tabs l2 supports, through intermediate construction hereinafter described in detail,

a substantially rectangular wire loop member I3 through which a band 14 of elastic fabric or webbing passes in freely slidable relation. Each end of each of the elastic bands l4 carries a clasp l5 of suitable design, such as the type commonly used on hose supporters and the like, whereby the ends of the elastic bands may be readily and removably attached to the hose-tops 16.

The points of attachment of the tabs l2 to the rear portion of the garment I l are just below and slightly outside the fullest part of the hips, where there are natural indentations, and are substantially in alignment with the respective back median lines of the wearershose. The clasps l5 are attached to the hose-tops at points close to the same alignment, as hereinafter pointed out. The length of the elastic bands i4 is such that they must be stretched to a considerable tension in order to fasten the clasps IS in the proper position, and the action of the anchoring devices when fastened in place in this manner is such as to accomplish the desired results hereinbefore specified. The bands may be made in varying lengths required and the necessity for providing a buckle or other adjusting means is thus eliminated, which is an important advantage.

The manner of attachment of the anchoring devices to the garment is an important feature of the invention, because said attachment must be accomplished in such a way that all of the parts will lie flat against the back of the garment under all conditions, and the elastic bands must be free to slide through the supporting loops l3 when the clasps l5 are being attached to the hose-tops. All ordinary methods of attachment have been found unsatisfactory, because the supports for the elastic bands would not stay in the proper positions when the wearer was in action, and the bands are prone to bunch up and slide to one side or the other of the attaching member, thus preventing the device from being properly secured in place and causing discomfort to the wearer.

For these reasons the supporting portions of one of the devices have been illustrated in considerable detail in Figs. 2 to 6 of the drawing. In Fig. 2 the stitching of the tab I2 to the garment I I is clearly shown, and it will be seen that the rectangular wire loop member I3 is firmly supported by a substantially U-shapedmetallic member .I I which is .doubled-over .the lower portion of. the .tab 12 and firmly secured. thereto. The metallic member I! may be suitably covered by a doubled fabric strip I8 of decorative ma.- terial if desired, which may also extend over the upper portion of the tab I2 to provide a nea-tappearance of the completed article.

The details of the metallic member 11' in its initial state are shown in Fig. 3, from which ?it will be seen that this member may be easily and economically formed by a stamping operation or the like. This operation provides prongs lwzat each end of the member, a transversely grooved portion :Hb hear-thezmiddleof the same, and a laterally opening :notch iIIc at one side. Perforations I Id, and v-shaped'notches 1 1e opening at ;the pposite ends .of't'he .member, mayalso be formed in the same-operation.

' 1n the construction of the anchoring device, the prongs l -Ia are bent up :at approximately right angles to the plane .of the ,main 'bodyzportions of. the member ;I I ,and the prongs :atone end are forced through theafreeendportion of the-tab I2 and bent down to hold :the latter :in place as shown in Fig. 4. Theends of the-member H are then bent-toward -.each other about the open side of :the groove -l-'Ib. When the doublin of member "I"! is completed, as shown :inrFig. 5, the prongs 1| Ia on the end shown at .the bottom in :the latter view are also forced :through the :end :portion of the tab I2, andthe bending of saidiprongs is .completedso that they lie fiat and provide :an extremely rigid attachment of the member .151 :to the end of the tab I2.

' It will be seenthatthe:twozprongs nthe longer end. portion of the member H and the middle prongon the other end areclampedonto the *tab l2 alone and that their 'free :ends -;fall into "the corresponding notches He in-17118 opposite end in eachcase. Each 10f the outside prongs :on the shorter end, however, :extends through one of. the perforations I 1d and is .bentgaround vthepadjacent bridge portion so that the two -.legs .of the: member 11 are securely clamped together, while the sharp ends of the last-mentioned prongs are protected by being-bent down into the second perforation H11 in each .case. clear-1y shown-in Fig. .5.

Fig.6 shows the manner in which the rectangular wire =1oop member 43 is put in place. This member is preferably-bent .f'rom'a piece of wire with the ends brought together -near one end'of the upper side,-.as indicated :at :l:3a *but without joining these ends together. Them-ire material has sufficient resilience to permit the same to be distorted .to some extent without ,being permanentlydeformed. Thus, the longer-end of the upper side of the loop maybe slid into the groove I75b at the bottom of the :U-shaped member H, from the-side of :the latter oppositethat in which the notchJ-Ic is formed, and .the short end of .the upper side of the loop may then .be permitted to spring through said notch somewhat after the fashion of a safety pin action. Prior to this 'operation thedoubled elastic .band -:I4 may beinserted through the opening in the looo-member This arrangement is and the completed assembly will then be as illustrated in Fig. 2, except for the application of the covering strip I8, which may be stitched in place at any convenient stage in the assembly.

The use of the metallic member H in the manner described provides a support for the loop member I3 which will always maintain the same very firmly in the proper position, lying fiat against the back of the garment and with the lower side of the loop member maintained horizontal with respect to the normal vertical axis of the device. Thus the elastic band I4 will always slide to either side thereof. By the same token the elastic band will always be entirely free to slide longitudinally through the loop I3 to permit the proper application of. the device.

'In putting the anchoring devices into use, one ofthe .clasps I5 is first secured to the top of the corresponding hose in line with the seam and the OI-IPQSitG'JGIIdOf the .band is'then drawn outwardly and downwardllyuntil the clasp at the other end of zthesame can be similarly attached to the hosetop. The two points of attachment to the top of the hose-are preferably madeas close together aspossible, at the middle of the :back portion of the .hose. In drawing the band into place the :be firmly supported by the loop I3 and will not elasticity of itheentire length of the band is brought into play. This feature is of great advantage because it allows all the desired tension to be obtained without excessive stretching of a short length of elastic material. For-this reason the device is of. great value, whereas a single lengthof elastic material having one point of attachmentto the foundation garment and one to the top of the hose wouldbe of no practical value.

Theeffort required toattach the anchoringdevices :to the hose is also an important consideration. The use of the double length of elastic material greatly "facilitates this operation, particularly in viewof the fact that the devices are 10- catedon-thaundersides of the legs of the wearer. This .ease of attachment of the devices in the properpositions thereof constitutes a further ad vantage of "the feature of utilizing the double length of elastic material.

The anchoring devices herein disclosed are suitable'for attachment to any type of so-called foundation garment; that is, a form-fitting garmentsuch as .a corset, girdle, or the like. Such garments are often sources-of discomfort to the persons wearing .the same and frequently defeat their own purposes because they will not remain in .the proper position. This is particularly true when the wearer arises from a seated position or is in action. Thesewdifliculties are eliminated by the present invention, which, therefore, serves to accomplish the desired results hereinbefore set forth.

It will be understood that this invention is equally adapted to be produced as an attachment or accessory for ordinary garments, or to be permanently attached to garments at the time of manufacture thereof.

While only one specific embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modificationsin the details of design and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and is desired to secure by LettersPatent, therefore, is:

1. .A garment anchor comprising an attaching device of thin, flat formation whereby the same may be secured to and lie flat against the rear portion of an undergarment without discomfort to the wearer when either seated or otherwise, a fabric portion forming substantially the entire exposed surface of said device, an elastic band passing freely and slidably through a substantially horizontal opening in said device, and attaching means at each end of said elastic band for readily and removably attaching said ends to the hose-tops of the wearer of the garment.

2. A garment anchor comprising an attaching device of thin, fiat formation whereby the same may be secured to and lie flat against the rear portion of an undergarment without discomfort to the wearer when either seated or otherwise, a fabric portion forming substantially the entire exposed surface of said device, a loop member constituting an element of said attaching device and having a straight side thereby held in a substantially horizontal position, an elastic band passing through said loop member and freely slidable over the said straight side thereof, and attaching means at each end of said elastic band for readily and removably attaching said ends to the hose-tops of the wearer of the garment.

3. An anchor for an undergarment for feminine wear, comprising a substantially inelastic fabric tab adapted to be securely attached to the garment, a substantially U-shaped flat metallic member doubled over a portion of said tab and firmly and permanently secured thereto, a loop member supported by said U-shaped member and having a straight side thereby positively held in a normally horizontal position, an elastic band passing through said loop member and freely slid-- able over the said straight side thereof, and attaching means at each end of said elastic band for readily and removably attaching said ends to the hose-tops of the wearer of the garment.

4. An anchor for an undergarment for feminine wear, comprising a substantially inelastic fabric tab having an upper portion adapted to be securely attached to the garment, a substantially U-shaped flat metallic member doubled over the lower portion of said tab and having prongs extending through the latter and bent over to secure said member firmly to said tab, a loop member supported by said U-shaped member and having a straight side thereby positively held in a normally horizontal position, an elastic band passing through said loop member and freely slidable over the said straight side thereof, and attached means at each end of said elastic band for readily and removably attaching said ends to the hose-tops of the wearer of the garment.

5. An anchor for an undergarment for feminine wear, comprising a substantially inelastic fabric tab adapted to be securely attached to the garment, a substantially U-shaped flat metallic member firmly secured to said tab, a substantially rectangular loop member supported by said U-shaped member and having a straight lower side thereby positively held in a normally horizontal position, an elastic band passing through said loop member and freely slidable over the said straight side thereof, and attaching means at each end of said elastic band for readily and removably attaching said ends to the hose-tops 5 of the wearer of the garment, the upper side of said loop member being discontinuous and capable of being sprung apart to open the loop for removal and replacement of the said elastic band, and said U-shaped member having a notch in one side thereof to accommodate such opening of said loop member.

6. The combination with an undergarment for feminine wear, of a pair of attaching devices secured to the rear portion thereof and each having a substantially horizontal opening therein, a pair of elastic bands respectively passing freely and slidably through said openings, and attaching means at each end of each of said bands for readily and removably attaching both ends of each band to the corresponding hose-tops of the wearer of the garment.

7. The combination with an undergarment f0 feminine wear, of a pair of attaching devices secured to the rear portion thereof substantially at the hip line and each having a substantially horizontal opening therein, a pair of elastic bands respectively passing freely and slidably through said openings, and attaching means at each end of each of said bands for readily and removably attaching both ends of each band to the corresponding hose-tops of the wearer of the garment.

8. The combination with an undergarment for feminine wear, of a pair of attaching devices secured to the rear portion thereof in position to be in substantial alignment with the respective back median lines of the wearers hose and each having a substantially horizontal opening therein, a pair of elastic bands respectively passing 40 freely and slidably through said openings, and attaching means at each end of each of said bands for readily and removably attaching both ends of each band to the corresponding hose-tops substantially at the middle of the back portions of the latter.

9. The combination with an undergarment for feminine wear, of a pair of substantially inelastic fabric attaching tabs sewed to the rear portion thereof, a pair of substantially U-shaped fiat metallic members rigidly secured to the respective tabs immediately below the line of stitching of the latter to the garment, a pair of substantially rectangular wire loop members respectively having their upper sides passing through said U-shaped members, a pair of elastic bands respectively passing freely and slidably through said loop members, and attaching means at each end of each of said bands for readily and removably attaching both ends of eachband to the corresponding hose-tops of the wearer of the garment.

CORA H. LAKE. 

